Rodney Eugene Bennett of Broadwater, Nebraska passed away on Monday, August 8, 2022 at the age of 57. Services will be held Saturday, August 27 at 2:00 PM in the Bridgeport Memorial Chapel, 718 Main Street, Bridgeport, Nebraska 69336. His immediate family will have a private ceremony to scatter his ashes at a later time. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.bridgeportmemorialchapel.com.
Rodney (Rod) was born to Linda and Millard Bennett in Bridgeport, Nebraska on July 26, 1965. His mother remarried, to Cleve Wiggins, and together they raised their family on a farm near Broadwater where Rod’s love for small town farm life was instilled. Rod graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1984, and enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV. It was there he met Olga Chao, and they married in 1986. In the next few years they had two children, Heather and Joseph Bennett. After his military service, Rod worked security in the casinos, including Caesars Palace for many years. Eventually the family sought a quieter life in the Midwest and relocated, allowing Rod to return to his roots in Broadwater. His union to Olga lasted until 2018, and. he remarried in 2020 to Louise Landers. He worked at Progress Rail in Sidney for a number of years, then worked on the family farm until his passing.
Rod was often a quiet and reserved individual, but the ornery grin on his face indicated he was up to something. He loved action and western movies, American history, and teaching his nieces, nephews and grandchildren all his “tricks” (much to the dismay of their parents). He was dedicated to his family, and family cookouts were his favorite type of event (no matter how much he deliberated over what dish to bring). Of all the roles he filled throughout his life, you could tell none brought him more joy than being “Poppa Bennett” to his grandkids.
Rod is survived by his children, Heather (David) Kaster of Wymore and Joseph Bennett of Broadwater; wife, Louise Bennett; mother, Linda Wiggins; brothers, Russell Bennett of Alliance, Ronald Bennett of North Carolina, and David (Carrie) Wiggins of Broadwater; grandchildren, Evan and Harper Kaster; nieces & nephews, Courtney Bennett, Dawson and Maxson Wiggins, and Marlee Wiggins.
He is preceded in death by his step-father, Cleve Wiggins; sister, Joanna Wiggins; former wife, Olga Bennett; and nephew, Cameron Wiggins.
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